Academic Dress
Academic dress had its beginning in the Middle Ages. When European universities were taking form in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, scholars were also clerics and adopted robes similar to those of their monastic orders. Caps were a necessity in the drafty buildings, and capes with hoods attached were needed for warmth. These early scholars made the hood distinctive for the various degrees by its color, trimming, and binding. As the universities gradually passed from the control of these ecclesiastics, academic dress took on brighter hues.
The use of academic garb in the United States has been continuous since the founding of our first institution in colonial times. A uniform system was not widespread, however, until about 1895 when the well-defined code of the Intercollegiate Commission was adopted by nearly all institutions of higher learning.
Gowns worn by those in the procession vary according to the degree held. Although the gown is more frequently black for academic degrees, certain universities have authorized the use of colored gowns. The academic gown has short or regular sleeves for the bachelor’s degree, pointed sleeves for the master’s degree, and round full sleeves for the doctor’s degree. There are no trimmings on the bachelor’s and master’s gowns, but the doctor’s gown is faced in front with black velvet and has three bars of the same material across the sleeves. In some cases, the color of this velvet relates to the field in which the degree is granted.
Hoods are not usually worn by recipients of the bachelor’s degree. The hood, which is the most distinctive feature of the American code, varies in length according to the type of degree held and is lined with the official colors of the institution conferring the degree. The velvet border or edging of the hood indicates the discipline of the degree it represents: scarlet, theology; blue, philosophy; light blue, education; brown, fine arts; blue violet, architecture; copper, economics; drab, business administration; golden yellow, science; green, medicine; sage green, physical education; orange, engineering; pink, music; purple, law; russet, forestry; and white, arts, letters, humanities.
The cap is usually square and is the same for all degrees. The standard tassel is black, but the doctor’s cap may have a gold tassel. The standard cap is the mortarboard and is usually the color of the gown. Undergraduates wear the tassel on the right side of the cap until the moment the degree is conferred.
Conferring of Degree
The legal corporate body of The Pennsylvania State University is its Board of Trustees. This is the entity that, by its charter, is given complete responsibility for the governance, welfare, and all other interests pertaining to the University. The Medallion presented by the Board of Trustees and worn by the Chancellor symbolizes the authority of the Chancellor to confer on each candidate the degree earned, as certified by the appropriate college faculty and administration.
Academic Mace and Medallion
The tradition of the mace can be dated to medieval kings, whose bodyguards would use a mace as an instrument of protection. It came to symbolize strength and authority. Originally, it was a weapon of offense that was made of iron and capable of breaking armor. It was a giant club, which came to be associated with brave men who fought to protect the king. During medieval times, the royal sergeants at arms were distinguished by their power of arrest without a warrant. To an increasing extent, the maces–originally ordinary weapons of war, similar to a club–became their emblems of authority from a noble lord or the king. These maces were stamped with the royal arms; and in an age in which few could read and write, the sergeants effected their arrests by showing their maces and not by producing any form of written warrant.
The evolution of maces from weapons of war to symbolic representations has seen the flanged head decrease in size to an ornamental bracket. The butt end historically carried the royal coat of arms and an arched crown surmounted by an orb and cross. As a result of the expansion of the butt end, maces began to be carried upside down with the crown uppermost.
Gradually, universities adopted the use of a mace to show the right of academic institutions to grant degrees to graduates. When English universities were taking form in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the mace was used as a symbol of royal authority at the universities the King established. It was displayed especially during formal ceremonies. The mace was carried by the most senior member of the faculty at the royal university before the president or chancellor and other dignitaries composing the platform party. The mace symbolically represents the college’s authority to exist and function as an institution of higher education.
As symbols of events and affiliations, medallions can be traced to religious orders during the Middle Ages. Since many orders, societies, and universities used similar designs—a circle, cross, or an oval—detailed artwork in the center of the medallion was adopted to differentiate each affiliation. Colleges and universities traditionally use ceremonial and commemorative medallions for formal occasions such as commencements, convocations, inaugurations, and other occasions when academic dress is worn. The academic medallion worn by the president or chancellor of the institution symbolically and officially represents his or her authority granted by the proper legal authority (the board of trustees, state authority, etc.) to confer degrees upon graduates of the institution.
Graduating with Honors
Honor Cords
Honor cords are double ropes knotted at the back of the neck and worn over the robe during commencement. The cords are awarded for academic honor, as well as for service and leadership. At Penn State Altoona, only honor cords for academic achievement or from recognized campus honor societies may be worn.
Penn State Altoona baccalaureate degree candidates graduating summa cum laude have attained a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.98 or higher; candidates graduating magna cum laude have attained a cumulative GPA between 3.94 and 3.97; and candidates graduating cum laude have attained a cumulative GPA between 3.85 and 3.93.
The College of Education confers the degree in Childhood and Early Adolescent Education offered at Penn State Altoona. Its baccalaureate degree candidates graduating summa cum laude have attained a GPA of 3.99; candidates graduating magna cum laude have attained a cumulative GPA between 3.96 and 3.98; and candidates graduating cum laude have attained a cumulative GPA between 3.91 and 3.95.
The College of Nursing confers the degree in Nursing offered at Penn State Altoona. Its baccalaureate degree candidates graduating summa cum laude have attained a GPA of 3.98; candidates graduating magna cum laude have attained a cumulative GPA between 3.92 and 3.97; and candidates graduating cum laude have attained a cumulative GPA between 3.85 and 3.91.
Throughout The Pennsylvania State University, associate degree candidates graduating summa cum laude have attained a cumulative GPA of 3.99 or higher; candidates graduating magna cum laude have attained a cumulative GPA between 3.90 and 3.98; and candidates graduating cum laude have attained a cumulative GPA between 3.81 and 3.89.
Penn State Altoona currently has fourteen honor societies that award honor cords for service or leadership.
- Alpha Phi Sigma
(National Criminal Justice Honor Society)
Blue and gold braided cords - Beta Beta Beta
(National Biological Honor Society)
Forest Green and red cords - Chi Alpha Sigma
(National College Athlete Honor Society)
Medallion with black ribbon - Kappa Delta Pi
(International Honor Society in Education)
Green and purple cords - Kappa Omicron Nu
(The Human Services Honor Society)
Double cream and burgundy cords - Lambda Pi Eta
(National Communication Association Honor Society)
Gold cords - Penn State Altoona Honors Program
Royal purple cords - Phi Alpha Theta
(National History Honor Society)
Red and blue/gray cords - Schreyer Honors College Scholars
The Scholars Medal - Sheetz Fellows
Medallion with blue ribbon - Sigma Beta Delta
(International Honor Society for Business, Management, and Administration)
Green and gold cords - Sigma Tau Delta
(International English Honor Society)
Red and black cords - Tau Alpha Pi
(National Honor Society for Engineering Technology)
Green and gold cords - Theta Chi Chapter of Tri-Alpha Honor Society
(A National Honor Society for First-Generation College Students)
Blue and grey cords - Veterans and Active Duty Military
Red, white, and blue cords
Sheetz Fellows
The Sheetz Fellows program is the vision of Steve and Nancy Sheetz. It was established as part of the couple’s historic gift to Penn State Altoona in 2009.
Sheetz Fellows participate in advanced instruction and activities that promote an enhanced awareness and understanding of leadership, service, and ethics. Established academic standards must be met to maintain status within the program. Other requirements include completion of a study abroad experience, a credit-bearing internship, and a minor or option in entrepreneurship.
Sheetz Fellows processing in the commencement ceremony are identified by the specially crafted medallion that is worn proudly around their necks as a symbol of their commitment to academic excellence.